The latest 'digital gold rush' has been a boost for the Bay Area's high earners, but a blow to its diversity and affordability. Conspicuous transportation modes - fleets of private buses and black town cars - epitomize the area's growing divide.
"The private [Silicon Valley shuttle] system has become the most visible symbol of the digital gold rush sweeping [San Francisco], and of the sharpening division between those who are riding the high-tech industry's good fortunes and those who are not," writes Jessica Guynn. "Fueling the growing rift is a common belief that the vast wealth being amassed by the tech industry is not spilling over into the community."
"Instead, activists say, the high-tech invasion is driving up the cost of living to levels that more San Franciscans cannot afford," she adds. "In a region that lays claim to some of the world's wealthiest companies, food stamp participation has hit a 10-year high, and homelessness has increased 20% in the last two years, [a report from Joint Venture Silicon Valley] found."
"That has led to some pointed criticism — some of it coming from within technology's own ranks."
FULL STORY: San Francisco split by Silicon Valley's wealth
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
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LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Central Transportation Planning Staff/Boston Region MPO
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions